Tuesday, August 30, 2016

MGSV: The Definitive Experience

Well shut my mouth and call me quiet!
I wonder if this release was always planned for Oct 11th or if perhaps Konami advanced this announcement/release due to the overwhelming negative response to the Metal Gear Survive reveal trailer?
Now for me this is fantastic but many who purchased Ground Zeroes and then TPP back when it first launched it will surely piss some off. I'll be getting MGS: Ground Zeroes + all the DLC, MGS: The Phantom Pain + all the DLC, MGO + all the DLC for $49.99.
That's an incredible value even if the game is almost 3 years old.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Rest In Peace Metal Gear

This is Hideo Kojima -->

He worked at Konami
I
I
V
  

which is now--->



In 1987 Kojima created a game called Metal Gear for MSX2 console....it was pretty good so it was ported to the NES.

 
Hideo Kojima followed up with a sequel called Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake for the MSX2 in 1990.
(I eventually got to play it when MGS3 Subsistence came out in 2006!)




But lets not get ahead of ourselves! 1998 Kojima created Metal Gear Solid while working for KCEJ for the original PlayStation, the game is a commercial success and helps Sony's fledgling game console become the best 5th generation console! Metal Gear Solid was one of the greatest games of that generation IMO.
  
With the success of Metal Gear Solid for the PS1 it was just a matter of time before Konami and Kojima gave us MGS2, and in November 2001 we discovered Raiden's pastey white ass!
Although not as critically praised as it's predecessor MGS2 expanded the lore of the Metal Gear story.
It would be another three years till the next Metal Gear Solid Game would arrive, and in November 2004 KCEJ and Kojima would deliver Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater, the pinnacle of the franchise in my humble opinion.
 The game takes us back to 1960's Cold War where we are introduced to The Boss and the Cobra Unit and Naked Snake who would eventually become the main Protagonist Big Boss from the original 1987 Metal Gear game!
Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater Review














Twenty One years after Kojima introduced us to Solid Snake, Big Boss, Metal Gear and Outer Heaven He gives us the chronological conclusion to the Metal Gear Saga with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of  The Patriots and what an amazing conclusion it was! In typical fashion Kojima's MGS4 leaves us fans with new questions!


With MGS4 the puzzle of the MGS saga was practically complete but there were a few pieces that we fans knew needed to be placed, which brings us to 2010's brilliant Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker for the PSP. Thankfully Konami decided to give this game the HD make over and bring it out on the PS3 the following year!












Wait this collection comes with trophy support for MGS2, MGS3 AND and HD version of MGS Peace Walker?! Yes Please, Thankyou!
MGS:PW is an incredible experience which fills in a piece of the afore-mentioned puzzle! With the creation of the MSF
and Mother-base we can begin to see the hero of MGS3 begin his transformation from the Hero of MGS3 to who we saw in 1987's Metal Gear.
Oh and it's co op!

For my friend Krogenars 40th birthday I decided to share one of video game histories most influential franchises....25 years of sneaking around in a cardboard box...the MGS Legacy Collection!


With the 8th generation of consoles released in 2013 news of the next MGS came and as I suspected it would fill in the last peice of the MGS saga puzzle.....what happens to Big Boss after the events of MGS Peace Walker and 1987's Metal Gear!

 Regrettibly I have yet to play MGS V GZ and The Phantom Pain. I was so overly excited for this game, knowing what would need to transpire, but soon after Ground Zero's launched there was rumblings of conflict between Kojima and Konami and as time went on the levy could no longer hold back the flood of negativity that had reached a cresendo between Kojima and Konami. and sadly in 2015, almost 30 years after Hideo Kojima created Metal Gear while working at Konami he left the company and has created a new company, Kojima Productions.
So with Kojima leaving Konami you'd figure that would be the end of the Metal Gear Franchise....well Konami figured differently. and at this years Gamescom Konami proudly revealed the trailer for Metal Gear...Survive......




OMFG WHAT THE FUCK WERE THEY THINKING!
THAT WAS THE BIGGEST STEAMING PILE OF EXCREMENT I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE GAMING LIFE!!!!
HIDEO KOJIMA'S MASTERPIECE OF GAMING REDUCED TO A COOP SURVIVAL HORROR GAME...EAT A DICK KONAMI!!!

Curious what Hideo Kojima thinks of this travesty??

So in closing, thanks for the amazing experience Hideo Kojima! 
I salute you and the Real Metal Gear Saga.


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Final Fantasy XV Kingsglaive and the 12 minute trailer

Check out the first 12 minutes of Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV! This is one of the companion pieces along with Brotherhood Final Fantasy XV the anime to FFXV a game I've been writing about for almost 10 years! I've watched Brotherhood FFXV Episode 1 Before the Storm on Crunchyroll and it was pretty good, and Kingsglaive looks stunning. I'm really looking forward to FFXV when it FINALLY arrives this November!

Friday, August 12, 2016

STAR WARS VS STAR TREK: EPIC GALACTIC MOVIE (Fan Trailer)

What if amazing worlds of Star Wars and Star Trek were to face off in the most epic galactic battle of all time?

Even though having big screen battles is all the rage lately, from Batman vs Superman to Captain America vs Iron Man, this year has seen two of the biggest blockbuster battles. Plus, we still have Godzilla vs King Kong coming in a few years. However, even though there are plenty of franchise crossovers happening, it’s pretty much a 110% guarantee that we’ll never see Star Wars vs Star Trek in movie theaters. But we can imagine what it would be like thanks to this cleverly edited new fan trailer where the two popular sci-fi franchises collide in the most epic way possible.

Still, when viewed together, rather than as competing science-fiction properties, it’s easy to get excited about what creative storytellers could do with Star Wars and Star Trek together in a single storyline.


 


 Featuring:
 1. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
 2. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
 3. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
 4. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
 5. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
 6. Star Trek (2009)
 7. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
 8. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
 9. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Trailer #1
 10. Star Trek Beyond TV-Spot “We Change”

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Rogue One Trailer

 126 Days till Rogue One, I cannot wait for this movie! I'm now convinced this movie will be every thing TFA wasn't.
Ever since it was announced and the synopsis was given I have firmly believed Rogue One will bring back the wonder and excitement to the franchise, not regurgitate it!
So we have a motley crew of rebels who are sent on an impossible mission to steal the plans to the Death Star which bring them to the Planet Jedah home to an ancient Jedi temple, but why is the Empire on Jedah???Is there something on Jedah the Empire needs?
For those not up to speed with the chronology Rogue One takes place weeks or days before Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope, and based on what I've just seen they nailed the look!
On top of all the awesome in this trailer we also get Darth Vader in his prime!
I'm also a fan of Star Wars Rebels and with season 3 coming in September and Thrawn finally being inducted into cannon there are many questions, questions that need answers.
The two biggest for me are When will we see Ahsoka again and if Thrawn survives Rebels where is he throughout the OT and TFA?









Monday, August 8, 2016

Macross Delta Episode 19 Eternal Songs

If you've read my blog at all you'd know I've been a fan of the Macross franchise since the original series SDFM (Robotech for me as a kid) back in 1982, and when Macross Plus came out in the 90's I rediscovered Macross and learned the difference between the Original and the HG version. Then in 2002 Macross Zero was released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise which served as a prequel to the events of SDFM/DYRL. Thru this OVA we are introduced to Shin Kudo, Sarah and Mao Nome and the myth's of the Birdman from the Mayan legends and the series first chronological love triangle.
10 years later we are now celebrating the 30th anniversary of Macross as the Delta Squadron of the PMC Chaos aboard the Macross Elysion have their hands full trying to suppress the Var Syndrome and fight the Kingdom of Windermere who has declared war on the NUNS, claiming they are the rightful heirs of the Protoculture not Humans.
Now last weeks episode "Eternal Songs" did something never before done in Macross history, in previous series we get the franchise staples, Music, Mecha and Love Triangles with a sprinkling of references to other series thru either a flash back, or a song or passing mention of an event. We also get that one filler episode that's used as a recap of events in the current show, what happened in episode 19 can only be described as a franchise recap that effectively unites 30 years of Macross into one cohesive story!  Now looking beyond epic nature of this "recap" what this might be is Shoji Kawamori taking the first steps to rightfully reclaiming the Macross rights from Harmony Gold so westerners can finally watch Macross without having to rely on 3rd parties....dare to dream!
Aside from Berger Stone's fascinating hypothisis about the Protoculture, music as a weapon and Human DNA, there where some other things that happened such as Mirage sharing her feelings for Hayate while he lay supposedly unconscious.. and Kaname looking out towards the medical frigate Mikumo is on wondering who she is, and when it cuts to Mikumo in the "bacta tank" I immediately was reminded of Sarah Nome inside the A.F.O.S. (Artifact from Outer Space) created by the Protoculture. Not to be confused with A.S.S.-1 (Alien Space Ship) which was a Supervision Army (Zentradi) war ship.












The similarities are unmistakable and during Heinz Nerich Windermere's coronation he declares "Rudanjal Rom Mayan". I am 99% certain there is a connection between Sarah Nome, the A.F.O.S. and Windermere.
Perhaps the Protoculture left an A.F.O.S. on each planet they created legacy races ie Earth, Windermere, Ragna.
Now as far as the mystery of who Lady M is....my money's on Dr. Mao Nome!  (Sheryl Nome's Grandmother)


And I'm guessing Mikumo is a clone of Sarah Nome.....remember the beads!
I'm enjoying M: Delta but episode 19 just reinvigorated my interest in the entire saga!


Sunday, August 7, 2016

Movie Review: Star Trek Beyond

Star Trek Beyond is a visual tour de force, and one hell of a sci fi / action movie! The problem I have is Beyond isn't intellectually stimulating (yeah I know that sounds kinda fey) it's almost like Bayformers in space!

The Yorktown Star-base was impressive, it reminded me of 70's artists drawings of what living in space would be like.




But you blink and we're leaving again.....that was the fastest maintenance check I've ever seen!  
I was also impressed by the alien designs in Beyond, since 2009's re boot the films have excelled at alien designs and effects....we've come along way people!   


I love the look of Jaylah but for me she seemed like eye candy. I'm positive she will be a popular cos play design for years to come.The fight scene she had was kinda ridiculous, I guess I'll chock it up to Jaylah was a member of a human martial Arts dojo somewhere....
I think it's a guilty pleasure for fans and writers to see the Enterprise get destroyed, seeing Krall's fleet tear apart the Enterprise was spectacular but hollow at the same time. It seems like 90 percent of the time the Enterprise and it's crew are unstoppable but when you want epic space battles the Enterprise becomes cannon fodder.
This brings me back to my original point this movie is all style and barely any substance, it's all oooh's and aaah's and no hmmm's, the core of this movie is revenge....that's it. And the Abronath bioweapon is the MacGuffin this story revolves around, we get a brief introspect into Kirk's state of mind when we first arrive at the Yorktown Star-base but it's never developed unfortunately.
But we just hop into a rescue mission for an Alien no body knows and zero protocol is involved....okay...
Now lets fast forward to the USS Franklin a pre federation starship that's been marooned on the planet Altamid for over 100 years.....100 years and within the duration of the time the Enterprise crew are on Altamid they're able to get this ship off world!? Holy Fuck Scottie and Jaylah you got serious skills! 
And I love Hikaru's idea to jump start the Franklin.....no not really.




And my biggest issue I have with Star Trek Beyond is how they defeated Krall's drone fleet from attacking the Yorktown star base!!! Using music as a strategic weapon against a superior Alien threat, Hmmmm where have I seen that before???? OH YEAH!



They totally stole the idea from Macross!! I guess Justin Linn is a fan of Decultcha.
And the Beasty Boys?!?! Really? It may have worked in 2009's reboot but this scene made me cringe! 

And the revelation of Krall's identity in the final twenty minutes for those who hadn't figured it out felt almost Scooby Dooish. Hey at least Trekkies got an original villian and story that didn't rely on nostalgia for nostalgia's sake and a weapon that sucks a sun dry without killing every living thing on the weapon.
I have shared my gripes with the movie but the acting is superb all around and the effects, and aliens design are very impressive. I also thought the tribute to Leonard Nimoy at the end, was classy. 
I just prefer TNG Trek better than this action oriented Trek.
So what exactly did we go beyond?
B-